Pansarbandvagn 302
Pansarbandvagn 302 (PBV 302) is a Swedish armored, tracked infantry fighting vehicle. It was used by the Swedish Army from 1966 to 2014 and is designed to carry troops and fight from within the vehicle.
What it is
- PBV 302 was built to replace the older PBV 301.
- About 644 units were made between 1966 and 1971 by Hägglund & Söner in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden.
Design and capabilities
- It has wide tracks for good off-road mobility and a high power-to-weight ratio.
- Weight: about 14 tonnes; length 5.35 m, width 2.86 m, height 2.50 m.
- Crew: 3 (commander, driver, gunner) + 8 passengers.
- Engine: Volvo diesel, 270 hp.
- Max speed: around 65–66 km/h on road; range about 300 km.
- It is amphibious with minimal crew preparation.
- Infantry troops can fight from inside the vehicle through two large roof hatches; normally they dismount through rear doors.
Armament and armor
- Main weapon: a 20 mm Hispano HS-804 cannon in a one-man turret.
- Secondary armament: two 71 mm Lyran mortars.
- Armor: about 23 mm thick.
- The vehicle carried ammunition and had racks for weapons used by mechanized infantry.
Variants and variants’ roles
- PBV 302A: original troop transport/IFV version.
- PBV 302B: upgraded with spalling liner and external armor.
- PBV 302C: similar to B, with reinforced suspension, new lights, flare launcher, new turbo and air conditioning; used mainly for UN and KFOR missions.
- Other versions (designations indicate roles):
- Stripbv 3021: battalion/brigade command post.
- Epbv 3022: forward observer vehicle.
- Bplpbv 3023: battery command vehicle (Bandkanon 1 batteries).
- Rlpbv 3024: radio/communications vehicle.
- Pjrekpbv 3025: battery reconnaissance vehicle.
- Sjuktppbv 3026: unarmed medical evacuation vehicle.
- Two related vehicles on the PBV 302 chassis:
- Bgbv 82: armored recovery vehicle.
- Brobv 941: bridge vehicle.
Operators
- Former operator: Sweden (in service until 2014, replaced by newer vehicles).
- Current operator (as of 2024): Ukraine. Sweden donated about 200 PBV 302s to Ukraine in 2024; they have been reported in use during the Russo-Ukrainian War. Some losses have been reported.
See also (related)
- Similar Swedish vehicles and other infantry fighting/armored personnel carriers like Pbv 301, Tgb m/42 KP, FV432, M113, and others used in Cold War era.
Quick facts
- Type: Infantry fighting vehicle (armored personnel carrier)
- Origin: Sweden
- Crew: 3 (commander, driver, gunner) + 8 troops
- Armament: 20 mm HS-804 cannon; two 71 mm Lyran mortars
- Armor: about 23 mm
- Engine: Volvo diesel, 270 hp
- Speed: up to 66 km/h
- Range: ~300 km
- All variants share components with the Ikv 91 tank destroyer
- Production: 1966–1971; 644 units built
PBV 302 is a compact, versatile Swedish IFV known for its strong off-road performance, amphibious capability, and various specialized variants that supported command, fire control, communications, reconnaissance, and medical roles.
This page was last edited on 28 January 2026, at 16:33 (CET).